A service dog "in training" is allowed access just as if they are fully trained as well, so as soon as your dog begins training they qualify as a service animal under the law allowing access. Someone was amazed that my yorkies were so well trained at such early ages, but, in reality, their training begins as soon as they are in my home and they have learned a lot by the time they are 6 months old. My dogs continue training for life and are always learning new behaviors. They love their "work" and it has definitely deepened our bond.
I have never been through the therapy dog training but it is a wonderful "job" as well. The healing powers of dogs is well documented. Unfortunately. therapy dogs are not afforded the same access as service dogs, but the law makes sense since the people benefitting from the therapy dogs are not the owners but "others".
The dog doesn't have to be doing something to assist it's owner at that particular time either when it is going into a place where the non service dog would not be welcome. The theory behind this is that the trained working dog takes his job very seriously and being separated from his owner is very stressful for him. There a tremendous bond which develops between a service animal and the person he assists. |